Went to the Spring Open house on Sunday. Great weather. Been wanting to visit an open house day here for a while and glad we were able to go. Loved the spaces, artwork and people. A true hidden urban gem. A great place to get lost in. We had some empanadas from the truck. Not super, lacked flavor and cost $5 per. Better selections and places around the area. This will be one of my favorite places in Jersey City. We will visit them in future events and get lost again. Planning to visit them soon. Highly recommended! read more

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Blown away by the amazing art they have on display! Went on a guided tour and our tour guide was extremely knowledgeable and friendly. I believe they offer free tours once a day - call and inquire as you can't walk around freely. Especially loved the John Chamberlain photographs where he used a wide lux camera to create "self-portraits of the nervous system." Would definitely recommend! read more

Mana Contemporary - Art Galleries Near Me - Jersey City, New Jersey

$10 guided tour is very special. Enjoyed the Warhol and Flavin rooms. I was the only person on my tour. Be sure to reserve space in advance. Nearby neighborhood is ethnic but certainly not sketchy as some have described. read more

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PROS: - FREE entrance! FREE parking! - offers 1 hour guided tours almost daily - all tours are free - quality works of art - variety of art and artists - easy to navigate rooms - tour guides are knowledgeable - large housing/studio space for up and coming artists - free parking CONS: - can only view art through private tours - hard to navigate outside or at parking areas, no signs anywhere - art is displayed in several closed rooms that are not near each other - have to book private tour (max 8 people) to view art - tour guide has to lock and unlock each room as as we enter and leave - outside surrounding area can look sketchy if you don't know where you are going or get lost PRO TIP: really nice idea for date and then can go somewhere nice locally to eat or a cafe spot I liked this place, I only wish it had more of an open concept where you are able to navigate around on your own. To view the art you have to sign up for a touring time and time slots sell out pretty quickly (hard to get same day time slots). The whole thing consists of eight warehouse spaces where the art are on display. It takes about an hour to navigate through the eight rooms spread out between two floors. Your tour guide will escort you to each room and give a brief description and background of the art and artist. If you are into art, you will definitely like this place. Our tour guide was very nice and answered all our questions. While it is nice to have a private tour guide, it kind of takes away from viewing and absorbing the art in a more organic way. read more

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Great modern art in a multi useful building. The staff are friendly and resourceful. This building is tucked out of the way and seems to be going under renovations. Should surely be a wonderful home to new culture and art as it flourishes. Glad to have been able to see it live read more

REVIEW OF LAST SATURDAYS ON 3/27/2017: Over the weekend, I checked out Last Saturdays at Mana Contemporary. Normal operating hours are only Monday through Friday from 11am to 3pm. However, every month, Mana opens on the last Saturday of the month from 5pm to 10pm with a special program for the night. On these Saturdays, Mana presents special performances and select open exhibitions and artist studios. Check the website for the upcoming programming for details. If you are interested, you can RSVP online for limited space workshops. Weekday tours of the gallery are free, but there's a suggested donation of $10 for Last Saturdays to support future programming. This Saturday, there was a 2-hour poetry workshop, a final screening of the short film LADY M 5.1 with a Q&A with the director and starring actor, two exhibitions (Andy Warhol: The Original Silkscreens and Arnulf Rainer), and the studios of artists Stanley Casselman and Maximilian Pelzmann. Mana Contemporary is housed in a former tobacco warehouse in the Marion neighborhood of Jersey City, which is close to Journal Square. There are two other Manas - one in Chicago and the other in Miami. The Mana in JC is like an all-in-one operation - exhibition spaces, artist studio spaces, and art storage. The warehouse stands out from a far. There's a giant mural on one side. When you walk towards the entrance, you almost forget you are in Jersey City. It kind of gives off a P.S. 1 vibe. Saturday was so awesome. I plan on checking out one of the free tours during normal operating hours very soon! TRAVEL TIPS: It's possible to walk from the JSQ PATH station (it'd be like a 20-minute walk). However, if you choose to drive there, there is free parking. read more

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Wow, this place is a treasure trove of art! I stopped in for Mana Fest January 2014 and was not disappointed. So many great exhibitions: Sculpture, architectural models, photorealism, live piano performance art, live dance, furniture, a light installation, and a variety of paintings on every medium imaginable. Did I leave anything out? I was actually tired from walking half way through my tour, and I'm a walking monster. Stand-outs for me were Paolo Pelosini's fantastic sculpture show, Richard Meier's Model Museum, and Jae Yong Kim's whimsical Snails and Donuts exibition* Be sure to catch some of the fantastic views of the Pulaski Skyway on the higher floors (I'm serious) and wear your walking shoes! Also worth mentioning, there is a great café onsite, I had a Kale caesar salad for about $10 that was pretty tasty. A lot of other reviewers mentioned how 'off of the beaten path' Mana is, but I don't really agree. It's one or two blocks past Little India, so all told we're talking about a four avenue-long walk off of JFK blvd, which is reasonable in my opinion, and there is a ton of parking onsite. Oh yeah, and did I admission is FREE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! *Fun fact - the artist's uses snails in his work as a self-reflection! read more

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Very interesting space and so large. I was here yesterday for their Mana Fest event showcasing 4 new exhibits and was extremely impressed by the space. First of all, there is a large amount of parking in front of the space. As it is about a 15-20 minute walk from the PATH station, we decided to drive instead and were surprised by the amount of parking at Mana. When we walked in, there was first an exhibit in an outdoor warehouse that was filled with floor to ceiling panels from Michael Zansky. Next, we continued to the right and entered the building where Sante D'Orazio and Ray Smith's exhibits were on the first floor. Definitely some very provocative and interesting pieces. On the third floor was a group exhibit by Middle Eastern artists. Overall, it was very interesting to see. and I love the open layout of the place where you can kind of roam and wander about and take as long as you please. There was just the right amount of staff that if you had questions there was always someone standing around to ask. One thing I didn't like were the freight elevators. It was a long wait in between to go up or down. I would have rather that we could use the stairs to save time. Other than that, it was an enjoyable experience and I look forward to coming to more exhibits in the future. read more

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Undeniably great. The art you'll see and touch and artists you'll meet. Photography and paintings, sculptures, dance, and more. There's even coffee. read more

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The old tobacco factory turned into gallery/work space for artists is hidden in Jersey City. They offer free tours with plenty of free parking space and the info is well described on their website. They also host a lot of gallery opening events and parties that are open to public mostly free of charge. What kind of gallery does that? The place is humongous, extremely clean and fun to explore. I went for a weekday 3pm tour thinking it would last an hour like the website described, but our tour guide was awesome and it actually was almost an hour and a half of amazing art work tour including some unshown Andy Warhol silk screens and plenty of other work by artists. The place is occupied by artists that are actively working on their projects so it's fun to peek at them/their work as well. I'd love to be back for some of fun events they host all the time. read more

Mana Contemporary - Art Galleries Near Me - Jersey City, New Jersey

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Despite the fact that our walk to the gallery made wonder if we were literally on the "wrong side of the tracks," Mana has it going on and is totally worth the trip!! The entrance to the building is around back and as we approached it the entire space seemed to open up, revealing a hip and happening space that has made great strides. However, as far as the space has come it still holds great potential for not only art but for the greater good of the surrounding community. I was able to explore the space with fellow Yelpers, which was also rockin'. We met a few people who work for Mana and even made useful connections for future endeavors - Mana is definitely looking to be involved in the community and with educational institutions. What better time to build a relationship than when the space is just now blossoming into the "it" place for modern art? I'm so excited to now know that this unique art space is here and I'll be looking forward to a return visit. Not only are they hosting visual art, but they will soon be the home of "Armitage Gone!" a modern dance company. Perhaps we might even see some live theatre in this space before the year is out. *hint*hint* Thanks, Yelp, for showing us hidden gems in the community around us! read more

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This place is so cool! I had no idea there was such a place in Jersey City, but I'm happy I do now. I was blow away by this hidden gem that featured a few Warhol pieces. Also, this is not just an art gallery, but a working space for artist! If you live in Jersey City and haven't been here, go and if you don't live in JC...still GO! read more

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An artists' paradise. It truly is... Does it have a very artist bourgeoisie vibe to it all? Absolutely. But nothing beats seeing artists at work. It's amazing to witness the creative process. I'm sorry I'm a writer and I would HATE people speculating as I write but alas writing requires a different creative process that requires SILENCE & definitely no one looking over your shoulder. So kudos to these artists for being kind enough to answer questions and let strangers into their creative space. I even had a conversation with an artist about her inspiration and her reason behind choosing water as the focal point of her sculptures. Awesome stuff. I'm always so inspired by what inspires others & artists are always my kind of people... Well, the sane down to earth ones. Big open spaces. Individualized artist studios-- interesting to see how artists decorate their spaces. I wonder how would I decorate mine if I had such a place? Like can I live here? I would love to but this area is quite desolate and a little too far from Manhattan by train and foot... Unfortunately a place like this wouldn't exist in Manhattan so push yourself to go! Yeah I'm talking to NYers like me who think Jersey is a different country, it does feel like it but that doesn't mean this place isn't worth the trip! ....It's not THAT bad. read more

Hidden gem in Jersey City with beautiful artwork showcasing local artists and huge artists alike! Will definitely come back :)

Pretentious and silly. Not an awful space, I will say. But attitude far above the talent doesn't equal very much. White Mana is more of a cultural icon in JC than this place. read more

This was the best kept secret of the art lovers world in Jersey City. Now that it is growing in development and art, it remains a gem but also draws in the crowds on event days. For art lovers, it truly doesn't get any better than this. This is what art exploration is all about. Now that they have really expanded and developed they have included a WIDE range of talent. Local artists.... international artists.... The collage of it all is perfection! read more

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If you're an art enthusiast, this is the place to visit. Not only is it in a convenient spot, they have lots of parking! I love how they remodeled the building, similar to the Mass Moca out in Massachusetts. Great example of turning what they have into art! Now for the interior. I absolutely love the vibe, when I enter. I really like that each artist is given their own space to show of their work and it doesn't feel like some galleries, where other artists work feel like they're going to collide with one another, of how close they are. In conclusion, if you're near by or even in NYC or CT, it's worth the trip! read more

A secret in jersey city.. Behind the scary looking unkempt warehouse walls is a beautiful space filled with art galleries, artists studios and artists at work. GO VISIT!!! That have yours every week day at 11, 2 and 4. Mine turned out to be a personal tour as I was the only one that morning... FANTASTIC!! read more

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I came here for a Yelp event, but was underwhelmed. I think this space has so much potential and, on a normal day, could be a lot of fun to tour. But when I came here, nearly all of the studios were closed despite there being hundreds of Yelpers there who were eager to check out the art and could be counter on to write reviews about what they saw. From what I did see, I was impressed. This is a huge space with multiple floors in an old warehouse, which I love. The location? Well, it is kind of in no-mans land, which stinks, because there is not much foot traffic in this area of Jersey City. read more

Great spot in Jersey City near the Journal Square neighborhood. I'm not an artist buff by any means, but Mana offers a wide range of art (both renowned and local) that is perfect for perusing through for a couple hours. Only draw-back is the limited open hours (mostly weekdays)...if they can manage more weekend hours/availability, this place would be a hot spot for weekend activities. Looks like they're trying to expand to some isolated Saturday events though... The wide open spaces and tons of natural lighting throughout the complex are really quite refreshing and cater towards the various exhibitions on display. But what's more impressive is that the design of the building still kept intact a lot of the rustic character of the factory/warehouse. The freight elevators are cool and suspenseful, in a "not sure the elevator will work" kinda way... but it did, no worries! Alex (of Mana) killed it with the tour even though I was the only one actually in it (weather put a cramp in things for a lot of potential patrons), but she was informative and engaging throughout. And apparently she does ALL the tours during the week, so special shout out! read more

When visiting this place, I was fairly surprised because it looked like a factory to me. THe brick building with fences seemed like a working factory back in the days, but when I went inside I was more convinced that this was a museum. Their elevators were very interesting like a garage elevator (I took a video of it) Optimistically, "very artful," pessimitely, ":I am going to get murder3ed here" haha I Specifically went to visit the Richard Meier Model Museum (Richard Meier - known for designing the Jubilee Church, and the Getty Museum in LA). His arhiectural works were phenomenal to look at! REMEMBER that you MUST email them to schedule a visit, because they only do it by appointment-based tours.It is located in New Jersey, and I went because my cousin is an architecture major. read more

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Mana Contemporary is an amazing and unexpected space, set back in Jersey City amidst abandoned unassuming warehouses just past Little India. When I stepped into MANA my mind was blown. Based on the old industrial exterior, I was not expecting the giant contemporary spaces, clean white and professional. The studio spaces here are HUGE and as an artist, they left me feeling quite envious. There are a number of other unique features including an enormous beer garde/installation space, and a cafe featuring surprisingly famous original artworks. There is also an area for dance, and performers practice there frequently. I couldn't believe to find this artistic goldmine in Jersey City. I will definately come back to check out shows and studio tours and I will continue to dfream of a day that I can afford a studio of my own! read more

Mana Contemporary was a BUST. It looks great and priced well but once they got you beware. What happend looked like the classic bait and switch but was more a like interoffice problem: I signed a lease on a studio/storage at Mana contemporary, I needed to curate paintings that had been in storage for years and that means paint and all the prep that goes with it. But when I show up the next day with a truck load full of my paintings they made it hard to unload, trying to get me to "upgrade" to their fine art storage. A sales manager named Micha, whom I hadn't met the day before, confronts me and says that the guy who rented me my space was wrong and in so many words said I was unwelcome to work there in the way I was told I could. Instead he wanted to rent me a fancy storage room (smaller for the same price) that was so private that I would have to have an escort just to visit my work and the time I was allowed in there was very limited. I could not work in it. He was confusing and persistent. I don't like to be hustled and this stunk. When he saw he couldn't bully me into renting something I didn't need or want he retracted and said I could have the space I rented in the first place because he could see how poorly this would reflect on Mana Contemporary. It was too late I was out of there because there is no telling what other ideas he might have for me once I was trapped there. So I load the truck back up but I had to park my paintings in the truck outside overnight, while I scrambled for some place to store my work and get the truck back. This wasted time and $$$ For a truck and 3 guys. I still have to find a work place. Luckily, I got a refund for the deposit money from the gentleman, who originally showed me the space. I give Mana Contemporary one star for giving that deposit back. read more

This place is incredible. The variety and scope of the wide-ranging artistic mediums makes it really fun and entertaining. Plus the space is incredible. Rather than go into a ton of detail describing it, I'd rather just encourage everyone to go check it out. Free parking if you're going by car and a short walk through Little India from the JSQ Path. read more

Wonderful huge space and several individual artist studios. I went there via Meetup and had a great time.

This space is awesome. It's so big and there's so many things to see. It's a very big and spacious. I came for a Yelp event and they were able to completely utilize the awesome space. Check it out! read more

Wow, this place is fantastic. Amazing artwork and energy. Definitely go.

So tickled to have this art space in my backyard. From top-notch wine classes to provocative art exhibits to indie artist studios, Mana is a Journal Square gem. read more

Amazing ginormous art space/center so close to Manhattan; definitely take advantage of the events they have there. Straight forward to get to via path train to journal square; then 10 minute walk. Also has onsite parking. read more

I think the five star caption sums it up perfectly. "As good as it gets." I spend a wonderful morning here. I can't believe this art utopia exists so close to me and I've only now just checked it out. I hear they may start offering classes here, which would be fantastic. Take my money, Mana Contemporary. read more

I'm absolutely infatuated with this place! No complaints.. The fact that it's free and so lowkey is great! I definitely wish to work here.